Saw that. Doubt the Toyota mechanics are gonna get much sleep tonight. On another note, the list of withdrawals includes 4 of the 5 Zongshen entries on Day 2.

That sucks!

I have been quietly following the Cyclone 250 (RXC?) and have read that they're planning to use the same frame (or close there of) and put the 450 in it. That's a bike I'd be interested in if the price was $5k or so.

Bet your ass people over at chinariders.com won't be praising Zongshen after this!

Maybe, but given how difficult the conditions seem to have been this year--both in terms of technical terrain and navigation problems--it could simply be that the riders withdrew as opposed to a mechanical issue. With the heat and humidity, it might be a case of severe dehydration. I'm guessing that as a first year entrant, the factory didn't have any expectation of finishing very high in the standings.

Root for Liana Sanz. She's KTM, and has been climbing the ladder for some time now (wasn't she in the Top-10 last year? Maybe?). I think she's struggling a little bit, had some navigational challenges recently, but she's hard core and determined and due IMHO. You've still got KTM factory riders Sam Sunderland and Matthias Walkner too. With Price moving aside as the dominant KTM force, I think there is a good chance that Sunderland will fill that now vacant spot. ..and I think he has something to prove (don't they all?).

Class: Sam Sunderland took advantage of today's day of rest to pay a visit to Toby Price Racing (who is looking better, by the way) at the hospital. We heartily applaud that! 👏 (📸: IG/sundersam) #Dakar2017

Brabec/USA wins Stage-6 (previously Stage-7, before they cancelled Stage-6?), but of course he is still dealing with the 1-hour penalty for an incorrect fuel filling like the rest of the Honda riders, so.... he's still kinda screwed.